Mechanically-operated toy



L. MARX April 19, 1927.

Filed June 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q l, 25, April 19,1927. L MARX .6 326 MECHANICALLY OPERATED TOY Filed June 9, 1925 2 Shets-Sheet 2 35 56 2o INYENTOR D LOUIS Marx iiwwkwq ATTORNEYS P simultaneously with Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES LOUIS MARX, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MECHANICALLY-OPEBATED TOY.

Application filed June 9, 1926. Serial No. 114,657.

This invention relates to a toy or amusement device, and more particularly to a mechanically operated toy; and has special reference to the provision of an improved roundabout toy or amusement device.

One of the principal objects of my present invention comprehends the provision of an improved roundabout toy or amusement device in which a figure such as a vehicle or the like is caused to rotate in cycles about a platform with means provided for automatically stopping the rotation of said vehicle after the vehicle has moved uninterruptedly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about the platform, the automatic stop means being constructed to permit the vehicle to cyclically move about the platform a predetermined number of times before bringing the same to a stop.

A further prime object of my present invention comprehends the provision of an amusement device or toy of the character referred to in which is provided a figure having a signal indicating arm movable between go and stop positions with mechanism for automatically moving the signal indicating arm to the stop indicating position after the rotatable vehicle has moved a predetermined plurality of cycles or revolutions about the platform; and the further provision of an improved. roundabout toy of this nature in which the gostop indicating means is associated with the automatic stop mechanism to pro- 4 duce a cooperative action between the same so as to effect a stopping of the rotatable vehicle simultaneously with an operation of the indicating means to the stop position.

A. still further object of my present invention comprehends the provision of a roundabout toy in which the go-stop indicating means and the automatic stop for the vehicle are operated by the movement of the vehicle, all the parts being operated by a single motor mechanism.

A still further important object of the invention resides in the provision of a roundabout toy made to simulate the conducting of street trafic, the go-stop indicating means comprising a go-stop sign and a traffic ofiicer associated therewith, both being operated bet-ween go and stop positions. the operation of the go-stop sign and the simulated traffic officer being effected the operation of the automatic stop mechanism for the vehicle Ancillary objects of the invention are the provision of a toy designed to perform the cooperative functions aforesaid with few operating parts constructed so as to permit the toy to be manufactured with ease and at low cost.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter more particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims; reference being hadto the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the roundabout toy embodying the principles of my present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged bottom plan View thereof,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the parts shown in a different position,

Fig. l is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 4.-4, Fig. 2 with the part-s shown in an advanced position, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 55, Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to the draw ings, the toy or roundabout device of my invention comprises generically a platform or support generally designated as A, a movable figure B movable cylically around the platform A and operated by a motor generally designated by the motor housing C on the platform A, the cyclic rotation of the figure B being controlled by an automatic stop mechanism generally designated as D, which stop mechanism operates to automatically bring the figure B to a halt simultaneously with the operation of go-stop indicating means generally designated as E. The platform or support A is preferably of the type in which an annular track is provided for the movement of the movable figure and said platform comprises a central disk section 10, an annular section 11, the said annular section being spaced from the central disk section 10 so as to provide or define an annular track 12 in which the figure B rotates. The annular section 11 is provided with a depending skirt portion 13 which forms the support for the toy and the disk section 10 is supported onthe annular section 11 by means of a plurality of arches 14, Lat

till

34, the outer end of which link is pivotally connected, as at 35, to the stop element 20. The stop element 20 is movable by the engagement of the stop element 19 from the normal position shown in Fig. 2, held in such normal position by means of a spring 36, to an actuated spring-tensioned position shown in Fig. 3; and when so moved the go-stop sign 25 is rotated a quarter of a turn in the direction shown by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the sign being moved from the go to the stop indicating position. It will be understood that the spring 36 is a light leaf spring sufficient in power onlj to return the parts to normal position, the strength of which is overbalanced by the more powerful spring of the operating motor for the toy.

lVith the above-recited construction it will be apparent that after a plurality of revolutions of the vehicle have been effected, which is predetermined by the design of the rotatable element 21, the vehicle is brought to a halt by the engagement between the stop elements 19 and 20, the arm 26 of the traffic officer figure is moved to the stop position by the engagement of the stop eiement 19 with the arm 30, and the go-stop sign 25 is moved from the go to the stop position by the actuation of the stop element 20 when engaged by the stop element 19.

To release the parts to permit continued activity of the toy until the operating motor is unwound, it is only necessary to manually move one of the parts such as the go-stop sign a partial revolution in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 3 of the drawings. By so doing the stop element 20 is moved from the full-line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, such motion permitting the forward end of the stop element 20 to seat in a channel 37 provided in the platform 10. as shown par ticularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The parts are so constructed that the element 20 is normally urged against the platform, this being assisted by the guide yoke 38, and when moved to the dotted line position it seats in the channel 37 and is thus moved upwardly out of the path of the stop element 19, the downwardly projecting finger 20 of the stop element being also bevelled to facilitate the escape of the stop element 19. When the stop element 19 passes or escapes the stop element 20, the vehicle B continues its rotation. and the remaining parts of the toy are moved to their normal positions. Thus the weight of the arm 30 assisted by the weight of the rod 28 causes the traffic officer figure to move to the normal position and the spring 36 causes the gostop sign to move to the go position, the stop element 20 being simultaneously moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the draw ings ready for the next engagement with the stop element 19.

The use and operation of my roundabout toy and the many advantages thereof will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be further apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in the preferred formx that many changes and modifications maybe made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform. a figure rotatable cylindrically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, and an automatic stop mechanism for the rotatable figure, said stop mechanism comprismg means operable to automatically stop the rotation of said figure when the same has moved uninterruptedly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

2. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a figure rotatable cyclically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, and an automatic stop mechanism for the rotatable figure, said stop mechanism comprising means operable by the movement of said figure to automatically stop the rotation of said figure when the same has moved uninterruptedly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

3. In a roundabout toy, a central platform, an annular member spaced from said platform, the space between the member and platform defining an annular track, a motor on. said platform. a toy vehicle movable cyclically in said annular track and connected to and operated by d motor, and an automatic stop mechanism for the toy vehicle, said stop mechanism comprising means operable to automatically stop the movement of said toy vehicle when the same has moved. unimpededly a plurality of cycles or revolutions in said annular track.

l. In an amusement device. a platform, a motor on said platform. a figure rotatable cyclically around said platform, means con necting said figure with said motor, and an automatic stop mechanism for the rotatable figure, said stop mechanism comprising a pair of cooperable stop elements, one of the stop elements being actuated by said connecting means during each revolution of said figure to advance the same and being brought into stop engagement with the other of said stop elements after said figure has moved uninterruptedly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

5. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a figure rotatable cyclically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, a figare on said plat form having a signal indieating arm, movable between atop and 110" rmsitums. and mechanism for automatically moving the signal indicating arm to the stop'" indicating position, said mechanism couun'iaing means operable only after the rotatable figure has moved a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

(1. ln an amuaemeut device. a platforn'i. a motor on said platform, a figure rotatable cyclically around said platforn'i and conliectcd to and operated by said motor. a figure on said platform having a signal indicating arm movable between stop and go positions. and mechaniam for automatically moving the signal iiulicating arnr to the atop indicating position, said mechaniem ct imprieiugr means operable by the movement of said rotatable figure and oul after the rotatable figure has moved a plurality o1 cyclca or revolutions about said platform.

7'. In a. roundabout tov, a. central plat;- form. an annular member spaced from Maid platform, the space between the member and platform defining an annular traclz, a motor on said platform, a. toy vehicle movable cyclically in said annular track and conncrtcd to and operated by said motor, a tigure on said platform having a signal indi catil'ig arm movable between stop and no position, and mechanism for automatically moving the signal indicating arm to the stop indicating position, said mechanism comprising means operable only after the toy vehicle has moved a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platforn'i.

S. In an amusement:- dcvice. a platform. a motor on said platform. a. figure rotatable cyclically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, an automatic stop mechanism for the rotatable figure, a tigure on said platform having a signal indicating arm movable between stop and go positions, mechanism for automatically moving the signal indicating arm to the stop indicating position and means for operating both of said mechanisms to stop indicating position and fig ure sto uiing positions when the rotatable figure has moved Imintcrruptetflly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about. said platform.

fl. 111 an amusement device, a platform. a motor on said platform, a figure rotatable c \'clieall v around said platftu'm and con uected. to and oper: ted l1 v said motor, an

automatic stop mechanism for the rotatable figure, a figure on said platter-n1 having a signal indicating arm movable between stop and go positions, mechanism for automatically n'1oving the signal indicating arm to the stop indicating position and means operated by the movement: of said rotatable figure for operating both of said mechanisms to stop indicating and figure stopping positions when the rotatable figure has moved uninterruptedly a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

10. In an amusen'ient device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a figure rotatable cyclically around said platform, means connecting said figure with aid motor, and an automatic stop mechaniom for the rotatable figure, said stop mechanism comprising a pair of cooperable h'fOll elements, one of the stop elements being actiuitod by said con.- nccting means during each revolution of said figure to advance the same and being brought into atop engagement with the other of said atop elements after said figure has moved nuintrrruptedl a plurality of cycles or revolut ions about said platform, a figure on said platform having a signal indicating arm movable between stop and go positions and means for moving the sig al indicating arm to the stop position when the said stop elements are brought; into said atop engagemeut.

It. In an amusement.- devire, a platform, a motor on said platform, a toy vehicle rotatable cyclically around said platform and con nected to and operated by said motor, a policeman figure on said platfornr provided with a movable arm, a go-stop sign 'pro vidcd with a movable go-stop indicating arm and meant operated by the rotation of said. tov vehicle for moving the arm of the policeman figure and the armof the gostop sign to the stop indicating positions.

12. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a. toy vehicle rotat1-. able t'gvclicalh around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, a policeman figure on aaid platform provided with a moval'ile arm. a go-stop sign provided with a. movable go-stop indicating arm and means operated by the rotation of said to vehicle for automatically moving the arm of the policeman figure and the arm of the gostop sign to the stop indicating poaitions, said means including mechanism operable onl t after the toy vehicle has moved a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform.

13. In a roundabout toy, a. central platform, an annular member apared from said platform, the space between tllGJl'lQlDlltl' and platform definii'ig an fll'llllllflt track, amotor on said platform. a to v vehicle movable cyclically in said annular track and connected to and operated by said motor, a policemanfigare on said platform provided with a. movable arm. a go-stop sign provided with a movable go stop indicating arm and means operated by the rotation of said toy vehicle for moving the arm of the policeman figure and the arm of the gorstxop sign to the stop indicating positions.

141-. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a toy vehicle rotatbut able cyclically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, an automatic stop mechanism for the vehicle, a policeman figure on said platform provided with a movable arm, a go-stop sign provided with a movable go-stop indicating armand means operable only after the vehicle has moved a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform for operating the stop mechanism to stop the vehicle and for simultaneously operating the arm of the policeman figure and the arm of the gostop sign to the stop indicating positions.

15. In an amusement device, a platform, a motor on said platform, a toy vehicle rotatable cyclically around said platform and connected to and operated by said motor, an

automatic stop mechanism for the vehicle. a policeman figure on said platform provided with a movable arm, a go-stop sign provided with a movable go-stop indicating arm and means operable only after the vehicle has moved a plurality of cycles or revolutions about said platform for operating the stop mechanism to stop the vehicle and for simultaneously operating the arm of the policeman figure and the arm of the gostop sign to the stop indicating positions, said means comprising mechanism operable by the rotation of the vehicle.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York this 4th day of June A. D. 1926.

LOUIS MARX. 

